The Montreal Impact have acquired midfielder Emanuel Maciel from San Lorenzo in a free transfer, the club announced Tuesday. The Impact add the deal is part of a "strategic cooperative relationship" between the two clubs.

“We are happy to welcome with us Emanuel, a promising young player,” Impact sporting director Olivier Renard said in a statement. “We hope to have forged a relationship with San Lorenzo that could lead to more players from that club following Nacho Piatti’s footsteps and making the jump to Major League Soccer with our club, starting with Emanuel Maciel.”

Maciel, 22, made one appearance for San Lorenzo after graduating from the U-20 side. The central midfielder joins his new teammates in preseason as the club prepare for their Concacaf Champions League clash with Saprissa next week.